Storing Rice and Flour for Long-Term Dry Food Safety

Storing rice and flour the right way helps protect your pantry staples from moisture, bugs, and spoilage.

Whether you're prepping for emergencies or want to stock up on essentials, using oxygen absorbers, Mylar bags, and airtight containers ensures your dry goods stay fresh and safe for the long haul.

Here's how to do it the smart way.

Mylar bags inside plastic (lidded) bins

In the photo above, I've got flour stored in Mylar bags, and then I put them in the large plastic-lidded bins when I need to store these items for the long term.

Even though the flour, rice, and beans are "dry" to begin with, if you're interested in storing these items safely, then follow the vacuuming-sealing method used when storing your dehydrated foods.

We're all about protecting our foods from the three enemies:

  • Light
  • Air
  • Moisture

I still strongly advise you to add an oxygen absorber into the individual vacuum-sealer bags before vacuum-sealing the air out, as they keep mold growth at bay.

Adding the oxygen absorber will also protect your flour and rice from insect damage, too.

Use an Oxygen Absorber in Jars, Bags, and Buckets

100cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100-pk shown

Coming up are the different sizes of oxygen absorbers!

Oxygen absorber sizes range in sizes from 50cc, 100cc, 300cc to a whopping 2000cc!

Why is there such a size range? When using smaller Mason jars, a 50cc oxygen absorber is ideal. For a larger quart-size Mason jar, then a 100cc size will be fine.

Oxygen Absorbers at Amazon

NOTE:
50cc are perfect for small jars and containers. Ideal for keeping spices and smaller dried foods fresh.
100cc are great for quart-sized jars and vacuum-sealer bags. The most versatile size for everyday use.

200-pk 50cc Oxygen Absorbers
200-pk 50cc Oxygen Absorbers

50cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • PackFreshUSA Oxygen Absorbers
  • 200-Pack
  • Food-Grade, Non-Toxic
Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100-pk
Oxy-Sorb 100cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100-pk

100cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • 100-Pack
  • Long-Term Food Storage Freshness Protection
Oxy-Sorb 300cc Oxygen Absorbers, 60-pkA
Oxy-Sorb 300cc Oxygen Absorbers, 60-pk

300cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • Bags of 20 (60 Count total)
  • Super Effective for Dried Goods
Oxy-Sorb 2000cc Oxygen Absorbers, 10-pk
Oxy-Sorb 2000cc Oxygen Absorbers, 10-pk

2000cc Oxygen Absorbers

  • Oxy-Sorb Oxygen Absorbers
  • Pack of 10
  • I use these for airtight bins and buckets

As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay does not increase.  Read disclosure here.

A NOTE HERE about DESICCANT PACKETS

Use them in conjunction with Oxygen Absorbers.
Here's How and Why...

Store for Medium-Term Usage in Mason Jars

If you live in a humid area and are thinking of storing rice and flour to keep the dry goods dry, use Mason jars for storing rice and flour, or in specialized canisters with an air-tight seal.

Mason jars are ideal for those who use rice on a weekly basis. Mason jars are too small for flour, Of course, you can use flour canisters or bins which are available at specialty kitchen goods stores as mentioned above.

You can add an oxygen absorber in the Mason jar along with the rice - the primary job of an oxygen absorber "is" to absorb oxygen, as the name implies.

I wouldn't bother adding an oxygen absorber into the big flour bins IF you are in and out of the flour bin on a regular basis.

IF you're not in the flour bin more than once or twice a month, then by all means pop in a massive 2000cc oxygen absorber and put the lid on it. Doing so will help keep moisture and bugs at bay.

Storing Rice and Flour in Bins and Buckets

Plastic Lidded storage bins. Good for storing dry goods.

This is one of the bins I showed at the top of the page, with its lid. Its purpose is to store vacuum-packed and sealed Mylar bags that contain our dehydrated foods - not massive bins full of loose dehydrated foods!

These bins ARE NOT airtight due to their handles, so don't bother adding an oxygen absorber inside it.

You can get these plastic-lidded bins at Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowe's or—yes, you guessed it—from Amazon online. Amazon has everything. You know that.

Storing Rice and Flour in Air-tight Buckets - Suitable for Storing Salt and Sugar Too

5-gallon, #2 plastic food-grade feed buckets with lids

If you're looking for air-tight storage, use feed buckets with lids.

Use 2000cc oxygen absorbers in buckets; they're perfect for this as they really ARE air-tight.

Check out these buckets at a 'Tractor Supply' website.

We also have a similar post that mentions how to store salt and sugar.

Visit Storing Dehydrated Food and Storing Dry Goods such as salt, and sugar.

Where Best to Store Bins and Buckets?

Great question! Look, I know it's hard to find space in closets, but they are ideal. Why? They are dark so that keeps direct light off your dry goods. Both the bins and buckets are great for stacking, too.

Check out this "how to create storage out of thin air" post where I go into detail on how to add storage on a blank wall - if you've run out of closets which I suspect happens 99% of the time!

Don't Make Your Stack Top Heavy!

Put the heavier goods at the bottom of the pile so they're not "top heavy." They hurt when they fall on you. Ask me know I know. Ouch.

You can safely stack around 5 plastic-lidded bins and about 4 buckets in a stack. I could only manage 4 buckets because I'm only a tad over five feet tall and it's too hard for me to reach them!

Again, keep the heavier buckets on the bottom.

These bins and buckets really don't take up too much room in the closet. I look at it this way: you can eat dehydrated food and beans, but you can't eat clothes.

Other folks like to store their bins and buckets filled with dehydrated goodies in their garage, but please beware of extreme heat and extreme cool temperatures. And BUGS.

FAQ – Storing Rice and Flour Long-Term

What’s the safest way to store rice and flour for the long term?

Use vacuum-sealed Mylar bags with a 100cc oxygen absorber, then place them in bins or food-grade buckets. Keep them in a dark, cool, dry place. Also add a desiccant package (details here on which size to choose).

Where to store flour?

It's important to store flour properly (for long-term) as we don't want those little bugs to appear! The best places to store flour aside from in vacuum-sealed bags are:

Freezer

  • Keeps flour fresh for up to 1 year
  • Prevents growth of bacteria and pests
  • Store in air-tight containers or freezer bags

Pantry

  • Store in a cool, dark place in containers with tight lids
  • Use food-grade plastic bins or glass/ceramic canisters
  • Optimal temperature is under 75°F

Fridge

  • Keeps flour fresh for up to 6 months
  • Cold temps prevent spoilage
  • Note that letting flour come to room temp before baking improves results

Oxygen absorbers

  • Add an oxygen absorber before sealing storage container
  • Helps remove moisture and inhibits bugs/larvae

Wherever you store, keep bags folded down and containers sealed tight. Store away from heat, light and humidity which can cause flour to deteriorate faster. Use clean utensils to scoop and don't introduced moisture with dirty hands. First-in, first-out for best results!

To be honest, storing in the freezer and fridge does NOT appeal to me due to the moisture levels inside those appliances. Not to mention all the space big bags of flour take up! I'd rather store big bags of flour (salt, sugar, etc). inside the plastic lidded bins, but for TOTAL air-tightness, use air-tight buckets.

Can I use Mason jars for storing rice and flour?

Yes, Mason jars are great for rice (and small batches of flour). Add a 50cc–100cc oxygen absorber for extra freshness.

Should I use desiccant packets too?

Yes! Pair desiccant packets with oxygen absorbers to fight both moisture and oxygen in storage containers.

Where should I store my filled bins or buckets?

Store them in a closet or pantry away from light, heat, and humidity. Avoid garages unless temperature-controlled.

What size oxygen absorber do I need for 5-gallon buckets?

Use 2000cc oxygen absorbers in 5-gallon airtight buckets for storing rice, flour, beans, or sugar.

Thanks for stopping by to read about storing rice and flour... and other dry goods!

With the right tools—like oxygen absorbers, vacuum sealing, and proper containers—you can make storing rice and flour both safe and simple.

Whether you're stocking a closet or building a full pantry, these tips will help keep your dry goods fresh for months (or even years). Don’t forget to grab your free 5 Dried Food Recipes PDF (below) before you go!

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